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Moto X ‘Google Play Edition’ is Coming Soon

According to The Verge, a Google Play Edition of the new Moto X device will go on sale sometime “soon” from Google. For sale directly through Google Play, there is no word on how much the device will cost exactly, but it is said that only a 16GB version of the phone will be available for sale. The GPE devices, such as the One and Galaxy S4, feature vanilla Android and receive updates much more quickly than their carrier-based siblings. No skins to worry about and no bloatware installed on the devices.

Additionally, there is no telling whether the Moto X GPE will be available for customization, a feature that is launching as an AT&T exclusive, but is said to come to other carriers sometime later this year.

Once more info is learned on when and where we can see a Moto X GPE, we will update you.

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What’s the point? Moto X isn’t too far off from vanilla Android anyway. I think a “Developer Edition” with an unlocked bootloader is more appropriate.

Geoffrey Gunter

Maybe a Google edition Droid Maxx would be cool…. Not so sure about this.

Geo

For all the Verizon people that are pissed at Verizon, why are you still with them? I am sadly a VZW customer and am trying to get my gf and her mom (we have the share everything plan) to consider moving to AT&T. But is it really that much better to switch to AT&T? What’s the best carrier right now in your opinion?

rreich49

I think “best” depends on where you live. They’re all pretty strong in my area, so I’m finally going to cut the VZW cord, after being with them for umpteen years. I’m thinking TM because they’re the only ones who have lowered their rates for non-subsidized phones. ATT and VZW charge the same rates whether subsidized or not. That was the last straw for me.

Larry Bublitz

I’m ordering a N4 and riding out the next six months. Blah.

Darrin W. Crenshaw

$300 and I’ll bite.

Raul

Would the dedicated processors still work with stock android or would it stop working like the HTC one’s IR blaster

Marikel

That’s a piece of hardware that they can’t just disable. They’ll make it work exactly as it does now. It’s not gonna be COMPLETELY stock Android. It’ll just be stock on the outside (like on the other GPE phones).

Guest

Would the two smaller processor still work with stock android or would it not work like the HTC one’s IR blaster.

Sean Bello

in our recent experience, the GPE phones are expensive and don’t have any of the cool features that the regular versions have. you’re basically paying for the naked specs, which this phone has none of.

“We are firmly committed to building a portfolio of products in Europe that show the best of Motorola as a Google company, but at this time don’t have any immediate plans for Moto X to come to the region.

My co worker wants to sell me his note 2 /w a bunch of accessories for $350. I told him I was gonna wait for this moto x announcement first then see. Should I jump on it? Good deal ?

jnt

if it’s in great condition, yeah that’s a really good deal, if the IMEI will stay clean

Brandon Golway

do it.

woodraskam

Thought I would regret buying an S4 last week. No more regrets. Even at full off-contract price that phone kicks the crap out of this phone. Rooted and running AOKP got rid of Touch Wiz and the camera is excellent.

Motorola is putting one more nail in it’s hardware coffin.

jnt

how’s the camera on AOKP? I know it probably isn’t as good as Touchwiz, but I haven’t tried an AOSP rom yet because I was afraid of losing the TW camera quality.

woodraskam

Granted, I was coming from the Galaxy Nexus which had a pretty shoddy sensor, the S4 is a dream. Works great with the stock camera app. I personally haven’t seen better pictures from a camera phone.

A.Miller

Stupid question but what is aokp?

woodraskam

Android Open Kang Project is another ROM group

Similar to Cyanoggenmod

kkloster

so, for chumps like me who are fans of nexus or GPE/unlocked devices, are we just never going to see 32GB on board?

Jackson

Maybe I think they will but my theory is the same price as the Nexus 4 currently is

More like a fairy dropped dead. And no amount of clapping will bring it back from where the GPE sent it.

Marikel

This is making me sad. Please stop with the kitten deaths Moto!

Jackson

Anyone want to try and “hack/guess the url for the gpe moto x

Tony Byatt

Google/Motorola should be ashamed of themselves…The next Nexus is the only hope…

Jackson

Im scared itll be more $ than expected

EC8CH

No way no how is that ever coming to Verizon.

We are basically screwed on Verizon until they go VOLTE and even then we’re still probably screwed.

Grasshopper239

you are screwed on Verizon, period. They are locking down everything, the exploits of the past have been patched and it will just keep getting harder to root/rom YOUR device. I left at the beginning of the year with a N4 and haven’t looked back….

As far as this device(not on VZW), time will tell if the custom phones bought from moto’s site really will come with unlockable bootloader like Engadget is reporting. This google play edition most certainly will, but I don’t see them selling enough to make it a phone that developers will be interested in.

To be fair if you are looking to buy a Moto phone (god forbid); the Ultra Maxxxxxxxx could be seen as the better choice. So strictly speaking Verizon; you have options.

tyguy829

It doesn’t have to be moto. I just expected their offering to blow me away. And the Maxx will never see 5.0 and have crap dev support. I just want some way of knowing I will be fine a year down the road. It’s the only reason I still have my gnex. I have so many rom choices.

vOc627

Only way is to wait a couple of months after a device is released and see how dev support goes. You either buy a Nexus if you’re fortunate to be able to use in on your carrier or live and die by dev support.

Tis the sad truth.

tyguy829

yep. unless some miracle happens this fall, i will be holding onto my gnex with 3 spare batteries until voLTE so I can finally get an unlocked phone that verizon’s dick has not been in. I feel like we get their sloppy seconds after they ruin the phone. (great analogy, i know)

A.Miller

I may do that too with the 3 batteries. Pathetic.

Marikel

I think these new DROID’s will end up seeing updates to 5.0, but probably 8 months after 5.0 is announced, just like with the DROID RAZR ICS update (which I sadly waited for)

LiterofCola

The Razrs did lag on getting ICS, but got Jellybean promptly.

Cody Revels

We need a video software guys…..show us the new stuff moto has threw in. Show us their version of the 4.2 quick settings. Show us the mms….is it still blurified? What about the contacts, phone app, etc? A full software walkthrough is what we need. 😀

Marikel

Most of the software is stock. The only thing that looks different would have to be the camera app. Everything else is stock (besides the transparent nav bar on the home screen).

Cody Revels

Even the 4.2 quick settings?

Marikel

Yup. It’s even more stock than the new DROID lineup which is very surprising.

warenmac

There’s no point in getting this phone if it isn’t coming with the unique software that’s supposed to set it apart.

It’s basically a not as good Nexus 4 if it’s running vanilla android

Billy Buttons

LTE

vOc627

I suppose the best way to look at it is by looking at it as a “developer edition”.

Jackson

Im starting to get scared that the Nexus 5 will be like $600

Brian Winning Jr.

When will people learn its not about the specs, between the Motorola x8 architecture and the future update to 4.3 this phone is a beast. Go sheep somewhere else.

vOc627

Moto x8 arch hasn’t had any real world testing. Nor 4.3 on the Moto X. You’re snubbing your nose at “sheep” while sounding like a fanboy.

Brian Winning Jr.

If you think they just through this together and put a price tag on it your a fool. This phone has been in the works a long time, and having been running 4.3 on my Galaxy Nexus and knowing all that the Android Team has done to improve graphics rendering and memory management there is no reason why it shouldn’t run great on any phone.

vOc627

I’m not a fool thanks. Nor are people who are concerned about specs. Different strokes for different folks; caring about specs does not equal uninformed.

Again, 4.3 doesn’t exist on this phone and x8 arch is brand spanking new. How about we wait and see before we start pointing fingers huh?

woodraskam

threw, you’re

Who’s the fool?

Sean Bello

the GPE probably won’t have any of that software on it, so why would you pay GPE price, which has been the normal, non – nexus unsubsidized price for a phone not as good as the nexus 4?

Verizon Wireless: Pissing me since 2010 but uses my unlimited data like a carrot on a stick.

addicuss

verizon wireless, sadly their network still trounces everyone elses so We’ll all bitch about them but end up using them regardless from now until the end of time.

elvisgp

The verge may be wrong about this. Android Central said that they never heard that the moto x would be a GP edition, but rather that it would just be sold in the play store. In other words, it’s not the same GP edition that the HTC one and the GS4 are because the moto x is already mostly stock.

Jeter

Hi-jeter

Eric S

It’s not for us, it’s for the sheep.

Joshua Bailey

It is going to be $299 on Google Play. Remember, T-Mobile prices their retail version of the Nexus 4 at $499, but on Google play it is $299.

I think this will be similar. When carriers can do their own pricing, of course it is higher. If the T-Mobile GPE edition is $299 for the 16GB version, I will definitely consider this.

Jackson

Same

MrBunster

Here’s hoping, Mr. Bailey. These student loans are killer.

Joshua Bailey

I’ll swallow your soul!!! blern!

MichaelFranz

ummmm…..what the difference between this and moto x besides the fact its going to get updates quick and maybe some removed bloatware. there is no skin on it right?

anezarati

i dont see the point of a gpe moto x either. you are getting unlocked bootloader, no bloatware, faster updates, but losing all the moto features.

seems like a gpe might not be worth it.

MichaelFranz

exactly, i just dont see it besides the advantage of quick updates and unlocked bootloader i dont see the point. A lot of people do it to unskin their device but this device has no skin. Just some bloat and good features. the software optimizations i think are great on this. No useless crap like s4

vOc627

You’ll probably lose the new Moto X features.

vOc627

This will be priced at or around the other Google Play Edition devices. The carriers will not be undermined; I can assure you of that.

Sean Bello

I’m thinking the same thing. shame too, I’m interested in the features, but I’m sure the nexus 5 will have the context aware stuff in a few months

moelsen8

16gb? no thanks. never again.

Jackson

Is it possible that is it is $300 off contract like the nexus 4? Because on t-mobile the nexus 4 is or was $199???

Marikel

it was 499… EDIT: I meant at T-Mobile the N4 was 499

Rusty Shackleford

I don’t understand who can afford to pay $600 for a Play Edition Phone…….

dwboston

Here’s how: (1) Save money to buy phone; or (2) Use eligible upgrade to buy smartphone from carrier. Sell said smartphone on eBay. Use proceeds to help buy Play Edition Phone.

Billy Buttons

Or get a 12 month no interest card and pay it off in monthly installments before interest kicks in.

sc4fpse

We already know what’s going to happen.
1. No CDMA, so no Verizon.
2. Ridiculous price for a device with specs like these.

Anybody want to bet against me?… Anyone?… Bueller?

thebigmann

This could be the biggest hype-cliff I’ve ever fallen off of. I feel like I’m free falling into smartphone mediocrity.

zmancbr

Coming sooon…GPE edition Moto X for $649 off contract and you can’t even customize it!! Congrats Moto, I am officially switching brands. I have had 3 straight Moto phones dating back to the OG droid, but this has gone on too far!

Mark

Too late Moto. If this phone came out at the end of last year people would say it had low specs and at that price who would buy it over a Nexus 4. Nexus 5 new’s please.

Calvin Garner

I think I am already over this phone.

Nathaniel Newman

Yep I’d rather get the Droid Maxx (Ultra) and get a 3,500 mAh battery and ALL the same features of the Moto X.

kixofmyg0t

Yeah but the DROID doesn’t get the 50GB of google drive storage like X does. EDIT for 2 years.

tyguy829

it does gets 6 months of all access though

kixofmyg0t

True. I’m already sold on the MAXX anyway. I just think the 50GB of Drive is cool.

Trueblue711

Yeah, then what happens if you don’t want a Moto X successor after that?

..but.. you won’t get a customizable backplate that will be covered by a smartphone case anyway!

Justin W

Not everyone covers up. Some people like to go naked.

michael arazan

I always went naked….till they kicked me off the subway

MichaelFranz

the new moto cases look like clear back cases

itsgonnalast

Me too. I’m looking for a phone

* with a huge battery,
* that I can use in the rain,
* that won’t break when dropped,
* with stock Android
* and that will get prompt OS updates.

the X has none of these. The Maxx has the first three… so I guess that’s close enough for me.

Tim Buchanan

The GS4 has 4 of those (if you flash stock).

Nicole

How does the X have none of those? 2200 is decent, its nano coated as well, It has the newest gorilla glass “magic glass” and its stock android which means it will get prompt OS updates.

itsgonnalast

To address your questions:

*Presented with the option to have a 2,200 (Moto X) or a 3,500 mAh battery (Maxx), I would choose the 3,500 every time.

*I haven’t read anything to suggest that the X is water-repellent in any way.

*Lots of phones supposedly have Gorilla Glass but they still fail the drop test.

*So far, only Nexus devices purchased directly from Google are guaranteed to get quick Android updates. I have a Verizon Galaxy Nexus that never gets updated, and also a Nexus 7 from Google Play that got 4.3 after only 7 days. The Google Play Edition (GPE) phones might buck the trend, but that’s still unknown. Regardless, I’m not expecting the Moto X to get updated any faster than the Verizon Nexus or the GPE phones, but let’s hope I’m wrong.

*The Moto X and the Maxx are both almost stock, and yes, that is good.

The S4 and HTC 1 run vanilla android if bought off the play store like the moto x will.

Jackson

Or it’s 299 and 349 like the n4

Charlie R.

The next phone that anyone can hope has a similar pricing structure to the N4 will be the N5. And that phone will be AT&T/T-Mobile only as well.

adh328

If this is true… parents will be getting a new phone this Christmas and I will be getting two free upgrades!

j

T-Mobile will have a bigger customer base very soon – and Confermed at $575 16GB

Jackson

Where?

j

Common sense bro…..

Jackson

Yea. Define Confirmed

CasperTFG

No, he said ‘confermed’.

Marikel

Learn to grammar

RAZR_FANN

If this was uncustomizable through Google Play for $200 off contract, I’d buy it instantly.

Mitchel Dirks

That probably won’t happen.. It’ll be 400-600 price range.

A.Miller

I could still maybe go for 400$

Jason Downing

I don’t even need to to be customizable… just available on Verizon, but that ain’t happening either.

yellowflash94

$200 off contract lol wtf its assembled in the US no way it will be even close to $400 honestly people expected too much

EatUrCrap

If you’re hoping for $200 off contract, you have your hopes WAY too high.

speraider430

Why would it be $200 dollars? Wasn’t the Nexus 4 $299 and made with slave labor?

El_Big_CHRIS

Seriously. At this point I’d not be surprised if it were priced at the s4 or one level. Justified because it’s made I’m America.

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